By Nuzla Rizkiya

The government announced efforts to accelerate the development of the Eastern Container Terminal (ECT) at the Port of Colombo, a highly anticipated initiative managed by the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA).

This week, Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation Minister Vijitha Herath received the Cabinet approval to designate the terminal’s construction as a ‘special project’. This designation aims to streamline the development process by minimising the bureaucratic delays and expediting the necessary permits and approvals required by the SLPA.

The authority previously indicated plans to complete the construction by the end of 2024. Initiated in March 2023, the ECT is projected to become the largest container operations terminal at the Port of Colombo.

Covering an area of 75 hectares, the terminal will feature a 1,320-meter-long jetty capable of accommodating three mega vessels simultaneously. Additionally, it will be equipped with 12 ship-to-shore cranes and 40 rail-mounted gantry cranes to facilitate efficient operations between ships and the land.

Designed to handle three million containers annually, the ECT will incorporate semi-automated systems and advanced technology to enhance operational efficiency. The SLPA has allocated a total of US $ 585 million for the terminal’s development, with China Engineering and Access Engineering appointed as the contractors for the project.